Sloths, slugs and heffalump bumps-july13

[princessllama]

Hope this works

Congrats to BB01 hope all is well with you and your lovely little girl.

For those of you with 'is it, isn't it' symptoms, I found an interesting web page on prelabour signs

Hope that link works. I came across it while lurking inthe due in June Thread.

Well done badmissm for surviving the baby shower, and congrats on finally getting your elcs sorted, it must be a huge relief, not long to go now

Sorry to hear Ezekiel has a bug, hope he gets better soon and is able to make his going home date. I really have so much respect for you ladies with babes in scbu, it must be such a strain, and balancing 'normal' home life for other DCs at the same time as well!

Hope everyone else is ok today. I've got Parents coming to visit today, and the sun is shining so should be a good day

Recipe for you Shelley

A little bit of lemon curd goes a long way - so make sure you have a little dip in the middle of the muffin to put the lemon curd in if making them.

Just realised I'm the most pregnant I've ever been

I seem to have kept myself so busy in week one of mat leave I've posted less than when working, don't know how that happened. Really enjoyed the time to myself, pottering around doing things at my own pace. There may have been the odd stop for coffee and cake, and even a McDonalds, along the way.

I was in the 4am club yesterday but phone was downstairs and was so hoping to get back to sleep I didn't venture down to get it. After nearly 2 hours awake I gave up and went for a bath, started re-reading Pride & Prejudice as I know it so well and no problem stopping mid chapter...then went back to bed and managed some sleep, so worked out in the end. Thankfully no repeat today.

DH and I went for curry last night, not to encourage labour, just cos we fancied it. Strange thinking we might not manage that for a while. Woke up today with period type cramps, strange after not having them for real for so long, and the implication my body is getting ready for labour was both scary and exciting. Think baby started engaging this week too as bump definitely lower and can feel hiccups lower down in particular.

My hospital bag stuff is assembled but need to actually get it in the bag. Also charge camera, test portable speakers, and sort out the playlist on my iPod (currently full of stuff from my dad's party last month).

Will try and chat to you all more whilst watching Wimbledon this week .

37+3

at 20 weeks didn't we think we had a very pink thread? now it seems all the boys are being impatient to announce their arrivals.

Wow lots happening again!
Congratulations bb01

Hope Ezekiel is improving Ellie, great you have a potential date for home to focus on now

shelley ironing muslins? I have to say I don't iron anything , even dh's work shirts (which are non iron ones) just get a good shake and hung up which is good enough for me
Sorry things are up in the air again re section/ecv

princess your dh does sound fab the way he handled things in hospital, you are doing a great job too

vinegar ooh exciting! I felt a bit twingy and sore last night too, plus sore back but back to normal today. I think baby is just moving into right position and don't expect much more to happen yet. But things sound promising for you!!

badmiss yaay on surviving the baby shower and also re having a date set!!

mrsross it's great having to time to potter about isn't it!
And I'm soooo looking forward to Wimbledon and getting to watch some tennis uninterupted!!

dinky that's a great recipe I might try it out! Dh finished fitting the slide and I have to say it's really great. I can't wait to have a go once I'm no longer pregnant (fear I may get stuck if I try it now!)

cheek you're right but I'm sure we'll get a wave of girls soon to balance things up

Sunday I had a look at that link- so basically pre-labour can be pretty much anything right?
Only joking I haven't looked at it properly yet but will do later on

Oh meant to say re bonding, ds1 was in scbu for 5 days and I didn't really bond properly for a few weeks. I knew that I loved him, and that I'd do anything for him but certainly didn't have the immediate head over heels in love thing that other people seemed to have. I felt really guilty/ ashamed about this and didn't tell anyone how I felt, but I realise now that it is normal to feel like that and everyone goes through the bonding thing at their own pace
It probably would have helped me to talk about it, so I'd encourage anyone else feeling like this not to hide it. It will be ok

thinking yes, yes it is! Have had lots of naps already, and enjoying the sofa time. Already felt myself getting hormonal / frustrated this morning though about not being as mobile, aches, and Dh not being awake at the same time as me I think once we're both a bit more settled into homelife (read:diy) I'll relax again!

I've been keeping up to date on fb, so apologies for not more personals. Good to see mostly good news this morning, but a special hullo and hugs for shiv

Thinking - I had similar delayed bonding with ds1 after his birth/stint in scbu. It is so much easier to bond in your own space at your own pace. By contrast dh bonded with him immediately - but we were the other way round with ds2. Glad the slide is such a success - its as great idea!

Have felt v odd today - had to tasks ds1 to ooh for ear infection and found standing up hard as too much pressure on cervix, then to Wellington arch and aspsley house where I had to sit again as feeling v odd, shoe shopping for the boys and then finally to my parents flat for lunch where again I felt out of puff. Not used to feeling so useless so hope it passes soon!

Thinking, you're right seems like the symptoms could be basically anything! , but I thought it was usefull to help not panic until the contractions are established into a bloody painful regular pattern, and that all these niggles I've been getting are no cause for action stations or alarm bells, yet!!!

My first was totally different, like Vinegars I think?, in that I had nothing, no pains at all for the wh

Whole pregnancy then all of a sudden my waters broke and I went straight into full blown major 3min apart contractions. So all this on off BH etc, is a bit new to me!

Dinky I felt a bit odd just reading your post! What a lot you packed into one day, you must be exhausted. I've done nothing more strenuous then make tea and talk a lot today but I'm ready for bed already I'm so tired.

Glad its not just me then Sunday Hoping an early night and a good nights sleep (well as good as it gets at this stage) will sort me out!

Congrats to the new arrivals! So much going on.

Just wondering if we'll have any more tonight-full moon& a 'supermoon' to boot-stats show more babies born at full moon. Kind of hoping my little one arrives tonight though booked in for elcs 3 weeks tomorrow, so sick & exhausted & bad heartburn.

Does anyone think there is any benefit in intentionally changing sleep routine to prepare for the arrival? I have ideas of getting up at 6 & having an avo nap but generally am getting 5 hours unbroken still which seems like a luxury to give up.

off to re-pack hospital bag optimistically!

Hi everyone!

I have had the sudden realisation that this baby is going to be here soon! At 38+4 was about time... Have been whinging about being fed up for weeks, and now it could happen soon! And then catching up on the thread and seeing a lot of people having twinges I realise Im due in a week and a half! Though apart from having a lot of pain in cervix and what Im not sure whether they are intense BH or 'light' contractions, have not had any signs really...

ellie hope ezequiel gets better v soon

dinky I am surprised to hear you say you were feeling tired, you seem to have more energy pregnant than I do when Im not! Put your feet up and eat some frozen yoghurt!

We just about survived DS birthhday yesterday, except stupid BILs had to start arguing. At least that was after the little ones went to sleep...

Exciting times now, babies coming all the time!

No more exciting stuff here, unfortunately, although slightly relieved as now back home so at least have what we need. At 4am the first thing on my mind was "bugger we didn't bring the TENS with us!"

Now stressing a tad about my waters breaking somewhere hugely embarrassing or inconvenient - they went at home last time in the middle of a house party, with no prior warning.... Imagining them going on a tube, or bus....

That's a worry for me too vinegar, mine went with a big sploosh last time! Followed by several more gushes before I got to hospital and my trousers were absolutely soaked
I'm going to try to remember to wear black trousers/ leggings as much as possible so if it happens when I'm out and about it will be slightly less obvious!

I"ve started a thread on Pregnancy about it... I soaked through 3 pairs of trousers last time! Speaking of which I have just passed the milestone of having intact waters longer than I ever have before.

Mine went at home last time (ds1 was being gently introduced to potty training at the time and told me I was a naughty mummy and should use the potty) :-) - so I stripped off below the waist till the gushes stopped then sat on maternity bed pads. Am planning on wearing dark maxi dresses a lot over the next few weeks...

Loving the naughty mummy comment!! mine were broken in the labour ward by a mw last time o no experience of that here either (or natural about even!). Still only 35+2 though, so hoping baby holds off another couple of weeks yet (though any tie after that is fine by me!).

Have suddenly started 'nesting'. In the last three days have bought a car, a double buggy, bought, washed and dried all baby clothes, sorted stuff from the loft, washed the Moses basket bedding, stripped the car seat for washing, written an instruction note (epic!) for dc1 as requested by my mum, ordered all the necessary stuff for my hospital bag and completed the first lot of batch cooking and freezing!! Suddenly feel like we might actually be having a baby soon (and sort of feel I might be tempting fate and he'll go to 42 weeks now!!).

Wow - that is quite some nesting Mightbemad!

I love the naughty mum comment too Hope you feel more engergised after a good night's rest Dinky.

Evelyn I'd stay with your current sleeping pattern. Sounds bliss. I'm waking several times a night but I do sleeping really well so wake up to change position, sort out cramp, or visit the loo and then go straight back down again!

Mightbemad that's really impressive nesting. Just think how amazingly organised you're be if you do go overdue!!

All this talk of waters breaking is very scary! I don't even remember mine going last time. I asked the midwife not to break them when I was 8cm and I think they might have gone just before I was pushing but no idea if that's even possible! My DH doesn't drive so FIL is on standby and I'll be mortified if I soak his car. Any tips on how to avoid or mitigate Such an occasion much appreciated.

Vingear Sounds like an eventful night. Must be good to be home though and close to TENS etc!

Thinking thanks for sharing your bonding story. I think it's one of those things women really don't talk about that much but maybe we should do it more.

Esme glad you survived the party. I know what you mean about suddenly realising your baby will be here soon. I love Dinky's idea for the next thread title. Sums up exactly how I feel. Off to bury head in sand again and convince myself all I need to do is get to hospital and open the window so the stalk delivering our baby can find me!

Oh well done on the baby shower badmiss-hope you got some nice things at least for your trouble.

Marie-my dh doesn't drive either & all my bros that are on call just love their cars so I'm worried also-I have bought some potty training sheet things for when I come home to go on our new (superking size) bed! So will have one handy in hospital bag area & sit on it with old towels beneath or something if have to go unexpectedly!

Also, said new bed has pillow top mattress which is a bit soft & I'm worried after cs that I'll struggle to get up easily-it's comical at best at the minute. I've read that satin sheet & pjs (or presumably folded over sheet on my side) would make getting up easier as you can just slide around. Anyone any experience or other tips?

Hope everyone has a good night :)

All this talk of labour and waters breaking :o

Anyone getting a wee bit scared, well maybe more excited scared? Up to now ive been so confident and excited, I am 37 weeks tomorrow and just realised I need a bit more time. Well at least some good sleep first. DH keeps teasing that my bump is getting lower and actually for the first time I feel movement under the belly button. She's still high though and that's the story I'm sticking to. .

Anyone up? My waters just broke!